Good computer for a noob?

[Luis]

a bit less in the CPU

Not possible without seriously reducing performance... The i5-2300 is the least expensive quad-core out there.

 

yeah, It's kinda overkill (imho) but it makes the PC REALLY futureproof...

 

I guess I need to update myself, haven't visited Tom's Hardware or AnandTech since Sandy Bridge was just a rumor

[alphabetagamma]

a bit less in the CPU

Not possible without seriously reducing performance... The i5-2300 is the least expensive quad-core out there.

 

yeah, It's kinda overkill (imho) but it makes the PC REALLY futureproof...

 

I guess I need to update myself, haven't visited Tom's Hardware or AnandTech since Sandy Bridge was just a rumor

I think you missed the quotes there Luis I agree with BTG though. If you want your computer to last, get at least a quad-core.

BTW, nice avatar

[BTGBullseye]

Thanks! One more quick question... Would Windows 7 come with it?

Operating System: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116986

 

It's easy to install. (put the disk in the drive and follow the instructions)

[SmokeGnome]

Operating System: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116986

 

That link didn't work. And could you get a student discount for operating systems on newegg? That would be nice.

[BTGBullseye]

Operating System: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116986

 

That link didn't work. And could you get a student discount for operating systems on newegg? That would be nice.

Bad on my part... Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

 

Don't know about student discounts, but if you buy $100 or more worth of stuff, you get a discount usable for the next month...

[Bjossi]

I envy you guys for being able to buy from NewEgg.

[BTGBullseye]

I envy you guys for being able to buy from NewEgg.

Big bonuses for tech prices in the USA... Glad I'm here...

 

This is the system that I really want: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=19711187

 

This is the build I made for SmokeGnome: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=16759685

[Luis]

That PSU is overkill BTG... Unless you plan to buy another GTX 570 down the road. I'd add a fast SSD to install windows on. Case is really sick! When it first came out it was like $700...

 

Nice system!

[BTGBullseye]

That PSU is overkill BTG... Unless you plan to buy another GTX 570 down the road. I'd add a fast SSD to install windows on. Case is really sick! When it first came out it was like $700...

 

Nice system!

Yeah, that's the only decent LGA1155 motherboard with at least dual full x16 PCIE ports, (most only do one 16x that splits to a dual 8x) planned for SLI in the future. PSU is the same price as most good 800w PSUs too.

 

Thanks.

[Ross Scott]

If you're wanting to game, this is about the least expensive you can get for a 'gaming' system... (any lower than this, and you're not gaming)

 

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157254

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162052

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136794

DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040

Operating System: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

 

Total price comes to about $750... That includes S&H and tax.

 

Just use the monitor, keyboard, and mouse you're using now, or if you want I can find new ones for you.

 

If you want to a go with a midrange AMD processor and motherboard, you can shave about $100 off the price with maybe a 1-10% speed drop in most games.

[Ross Scott]

These parts will still give you pretty good performance in most games:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103652&Tpk=phenom%20ii%20720

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186188&cm_re=am3_motherboard-_-13-186-188-_-Product

 

Despite being a slightly older processor, I've found it's almost exactly on par in performance with AMD's latest offering around the $120 mark (for gaming). So that's about $150 you could save with a relatively minor speed hit. If you take some of that money and get a faster GPU, I guarantee you'll have faster gaming than BTGbullseye's build.

[BTGBullseye]

These parts will still give you pretty good performance in most games:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103652&Tpk=phenom%20ii%20720

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186188&cm_re=am3_motherboard-_-13-186-188-_-Product

 

Despite being a slightly older processor, I've found it's almost exactly on par in performance with AMD's latest offering around the $120 mark (for gaming). So that's about $150 you could save with a relatively minor speed hit. If you take some of that money and get a faster GPU, I guarantee you'll have faster gaming than BTGbullseye's build.

Hate to argue with you here, but...

 

First off, he'd have to get an after-market CPU cooler with that (~$20 for something barely decent), and thermal grease. (another ~$5)

 

Second, there is little or no upgradeability with those. No futureproofing. That's the key when doing a wholly new computer, making it's longevity be as long as possible for minimum price now and in the future.

 

 

[i am a hardware Guru. I can make incompatible old hardware sit up, assemble itself, and run the latest games at medium settings with only a threatening glance.]

[Ross Scott]

Well you're right in that I forgot about the heatsink and thermal grease, that skipped my mind.

 

And dude, surely you realize the irony talking about future-proofing with an Intel chipset. Intel has changed its sockets god knows how many times now, whereas some AM2 motherboards from 2006 could run a modern AM3 processor today with a BIOS upgrade. Still, you make a point in that he may want to pay more for a motherboard that will support AM3+ as well as AM3. I'm willing to bet money AMD will still be making processors that work in present-day AM3+ motherboards longer than anything Intel will put out for LGA 1155. Aren't they already planning to move to LGA 2011 in a few months?

 

Anyway, with this amount of cash, you can get the system running just about any game on HIGH settings, not medium. The point here is that with present day processors, for gaming, you're going to see MUCH more performance getting a mid to high-end videocard paired with a medium to lower-end CPU than vice-versa.

[Luis]

And dude, surely you realize the irony talking about future-proofing with an Intel chipset. Intel has changed its sockets god knows how many times now, whereas some AM2 motherboards from 2006 could run a modern AM3 processor today with a BIOS upgrade.

 

That CPU is futureproof not because you can upgrade to a better one without changing your MoBo but because god knows when that quad core beast is not gonna be able to keep up. Think of people who bought a Yorkfield quad core in 2008 or a i7 920 in 2009, they STILL don't have the need to upgrade (and won't have for a big while) His $750 bucks system will serve him well for AT LEAST 3 years.

 

Even I with my humble Core 2 Duo still don't feel the need to upgrade for gaming, my system can (could with a nice GPU) run every game out there with high settings (ok, maybe not crysis 2 in DX11 mode).

[BTGBullseye]

Aren't they already planning to move to LGA 2011 in a few months?

That runs off of the LGA1155 socket. The only limitation is the chipset. (have to have one that supports multiple PCIx x16 ports, and SATA III)

 

Besides, that system (other than a video upgrade at a later date when he's wanting to play Crysis 2 above Medium settings) will most likely do everything he'll need it to for the next 5-8 years.

 

This is what he's using it for:

Um, ordinary games would be civilization, red alert, half life's... Um, graphical wonders would be, well, um, I can't think of any examples. Games that have subscription costs and people spend every waking minute of every day playing them.

He doesn't need a GTX 5XX series GPU, and probly won't need to upgrade for the next 3-5 years.

 

 

 

One last thought... Once you know how to build your own system, upgrading the motherboard isn't a problem. Even reactivating Windows afterwards is getting easier.

[SmokeGnome]

Okay I've done more research, and it's came down to AMD radeon or Nvidea geforce. Which graphics card is better?

 

I found a website ( www.ibuypower.com) where you can create your own computer, and it is assembled for you, (I bleaked away from the build-your-own-on-your own, and wait until I'm more advanced in the art of technology.

[Luis]

Okay I've done more research, and it's came down to AMD radeon or Nvidea geforce. Which graphics card is better?

 

I found a website ( http://www.ibuypower.com) where you can create your own computer, and it is assembled for you, (I bleaked away from the build-your-own-on-your own, and wait until I'm more advanced in the art of technology.

 

Well you pretty much don't have another option ;P.

 

It depends on your budget, in general ATI is more back for the buck but it's drivers are not the best... Nvidia is a safe bet on drivers but a equivalent from the radeon brand will cost you a bit more and consume a bit more power too (in general) so it's your choice. I recommend both but the driver issue in AMD is kind of a pain in the ass ;P.

[BTGBullseye]

Okay I've done more research, and it's came down to AMD radeon or Nvidea geforce. Which graphics card is better?

 

I found a website ( http://www.ibuypower.com) where you can create your own computer, and it is assembled for you, (I bleaked away from the build-your-own-on-your own, and wait until I'm more advanced in the art of technology.

It all depends on what you have for the rest of your build...

 

By the way, I recommend not using iBuy, and going instead for http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/. (better computers, better customer service, lower prices in general)

[SmokeGnome]

Did a basic run through cyberpower's configurator, came out at $852. The cases... Are maybe a bit too fancy. Wouldn't they have a basic one? I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

[Ross Scott]

It depends on your budget, in general ATI is more back for the buck but it's drivers are not the best... Nvidia is a safe bet on drivers but a equivalent from the radeon brand will cost you a bit more and consume a bit more power too (in general) so it's your choice.

I think most people just have anecdotal evidence, but I've switched cards before and I've had plenty of driver issues on both sides. Before I upgraded to 7 I was having plenty of blue screens related to nv4_disp.dll and one game (Hinterland) absolutely refusing to run without blue screening in full screen mode on my 9800 GTX. I do find they have better options overall than AMD however, but really I don't see as one having better drivers than the other, I've seen too many problems on both sides. My experience has been ATI is more likely to have graphical glitches, Nvidia is more likely to blue screen.

 

As for power consumption, for a while AMD was the clear winner, but with the 500 series it's a more level playing field. There's not really a general rule now, just look at the price range for the cards you're interested in and compare yourself:

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/3D-Power-Draw,2678.html